Fiberness, reflectiveness and roughness in the characterization of natural and high quality materials

The use of environmentally sensitive materials – such as bio plastics and natural fiber composites – is one of the most prominent means of the deployment of sustainable product design. Available literature covers the environmental performance of such materials, their suitability as an alternative to regular ones, developments in their physical structure, their cost and diverse applications. Nevertheless, a stark gap can be found in literature articulating how users appraise these materials. In appraisals of environmentally sensitive materials, the characterization of two particular meanings plays a significant role: naturalness and high quality. In this paper, we present an empirical study where we delve into the understanding of three material aspects: fiberness, reflectiveness and roughness, as well as their individual and collective influences on the characterization of natural and high-quality materials. Drawing on the results of this study, we discuss the challenges for sustainable product designers and the critical pathways to follow accordingly.